A soldier who has cleared twice as many roadside bombs as any other bomb disposal specialist in history is among more than 100 service personnel honoured for bravery in Afghanistan.

Sgt Maj Karl Ley, from Sheffield, is awarded the George Medal for making safe 139 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted by Taliban-led insurgents. His citation praises his "sheer determination, guile and awesome bravery". On one operation he defused 42 IEDs within 72 hours.

Cpl Ricky Furgusson (above), who lost both legs and an eye in Sangin, receives the Military Cross. Four times he went to help soldiers injured by IEDs before he was injured in Sangin.

Rifleman Ross Robinson – who continued mine detecting despite severe wounds but was killed in a road accident immediately after discharge from the MoD's rehabilitation centre – is to be posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal. Brig James Cowan of the Black Watch and Lt Col Nick Kitson of 3 Rifles were awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox yesterday temporarily stopped "manning control points" which could have identified soldiers for discharge while they served in Afghanistan. The system is used to retire soldiers when the army, as now, is close to full strength.